Interior Secretary Gale Norton will address the 18th Annual Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism Dec. 12. Norton is the nation’s chief steward of public lands that attract nearly half a billion visitors a year.

Norton is expected to speak about creating, cultivating and renewing federal state partnerships hat help communities promote tourism, especially in the West where the Interior Department manages most of the land.

Nevada commission on Tourism (NCOT) chair, Lorraine Hunt, said, “Our national parks, forests and recreation sites are precious to our country’s natural and cultural heritage and vital to its recreational tourism. We are excited t have secretary Norton speak to our delegates, who represent the tour and travel industry that is the backbone of the economy in Nevada and many other places.”

The conference, which is produced by NCOT, will feature Norton as General Assembly speaker on the concluding day of the gathering at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

In a recent statement, Norton said, “Encouraging tourism on these lands is necessary to further public knowledge, awareness and appreciation.”

In her role of Interior Secretary, Norton oversees the department that manages one sixth of the land in the United States, the equivalent to 451 million acres. She also governs agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation.